Method and system of psap call back of in subscriber

ABSTRACT

A method and system for re-establishing a connection from a PSAP or 911 call center to a terminal of a 911 caller who has subscribed to IN services, for example, after a terminal of a 911 caller has been disconnected from the PSAP or 911 call center. If the call is dropped, the PSAP or 911 call center can, manually, or automatically via the system of the present invention, dial or cause to be dialed, a pre-determined prefix prior to dialing the number of the terminal of the 911 caller. In a separate embodiment of the method and system of the present invention, a separate parameter is used in CAMEL IDP and ISUP IAM to indicate the calling party category to identify that the call is originating from a PSAP or 911 call center.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.12/098,553, filed Apr. 7, 2008, now pending, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The acronyms used herein shall have the following meanings:

Ack—Acknowledge

BS—Base Station

BSC—Base Station Controller

CAMEL—Customized Applications for Mobile Network Enhanced Logic

DP—Detection Point

GMSC—Gateway Mobile Switching Center

GSM—Global System for Mobile Communications

HLR—Home Location Register

IAM—Initial Address Message

IDP—Initial Detection Point

IN—Intelligent Network

ISUP—ISDN User Part

IXC—Inter Exchange Carrier

LEC—Local Exchange Carrier

MAP—Mobile Application Part

MSC—Mobile Switching Center

MSISDN—Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number

MSRN—Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number

MTP—Message Transport Part

PSAP—Public Safety Answering Point

RRB—Request Report BCSM Event

SCCP—Signaling Connection and Control Part

SCP—Service Control Point

SDP—Service Data Point

SSF—Service Switching Function

SK—Service Key

SP—Signaling Point

SRI—Send Routing Information

SSF—Service switching Function

T-CSI—Terminating CAMEL Subscription Information

VLR—Visitor Location Register

V—MSC Visiting MSC

VoIP—Voice over Internet Protocol

Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), also known as 911 call centers,are the public's first line of contact with public safety authorities inan emergency situation. The term “911” shall not be construed as beinglimited to calls signaled using the digits “911” as these digits areused to generically refer to any signaling to an emergency call center.Dialing 911 from a terminal quickly connects callers to a PSAPdispatcher. In the event a 911 call from a terminal is dropped orcut-off, it is standard procedure for the PSAP dispatcher to attempt tore-establish the connection with the terminal of the 911 caller bycalling the same number received in the 911 call report.

However, there are situations where a PSAP or 911 call center may havedifficulty re-establishing the connection with the terminal of the 911caller, particularly if the terminal of the 911 caller is subscribed toIN services, due to restrictions that are placed on the IN subscriberside. Such restrictions may include parental control restrictions,insufficient pre-paid credit or available minutes. In such case, theterminal of the IN subscriber may be restricted in making or receivingcalls to and from certain numbers even though the subscriber service isstill active. For example, a terminal of a IN subscriber may be allowedto make certain outgoing calls, such as to a customer care number, 911or certain 1-800 numbers or receive incoming calls, such as from 611,certain 1-800 numbers, and numbers that are always allowed or that arefree of charge.

FIG. 1A illustrates a dropped 911 call 101 made from a terminal 102subscribed to IN services, the call initially having been routed fromterminal 102, to BS 103 through BSC 104 and MSC/VLR 105 to PSAP 106.FIG. 1B is a message flow diagram 100B illustrating the problem of adropped 911 call made from a terminal of a subscriber to IN services.FIG. 1C is a message flow diagram 100C illustrating an attempted callback to a 911 caller with IN services. But the PSAP will not be able toconnect successfully with 911 Caller (B party) in case of various calledParty IN services restrictions. E.g. insufficient pre-paid money orminutes, parental restrictions etc. Due to these various IN servicerestrictions Service does not allow the PSAP call to IN subscriber.

Conventionally, there is no method or system to allow a PSAP tore-establish a connection to a terminal of a 911 caller who is an INsubscriber in the event of a dropped call, if there are restrictions onthe terminal of the subscriber as herein before described. Because PSAPnumbers are numerous and unregulated, there is no method or system todistinguish a PSAP number for such callback purposes. Also, there is nomethod to identify the calls from PSAP numbers and tag them separatelyto allow the calls to be connected free of charge to the 911 caller.

In the event a terminal of a subscriber to an IN service has a parentalcontrol, the parent may only allow the terminal held by the child toreceive calls from green listed numbers, which are calls from e.g.,parents, relatives, or close friends, whereas calls from other numbers,such as a PSAP, may be red-listed or barred. Finally, the IN servicecould be configured to apply a time restriction on the connection ofcalls during certain periods of time or days of the week. For example, aparent might block incoming and/or outgoing calls to a terminal held bya child during school hours from Monday to Friday. These timerestrictions may inhibit a PSAP from calling back a terminal of a 911caller.

What is desired is a method and system for connecting a PSAP or 911 callcenter to a terminal of an IN subscriber without restriction.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a method and system for re-establishing aconnection from a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or 911 callcenters to a terminal of a 911 caller, for example, after a 911 callerhas been disconnected from the PSAP or 911 call center. In the presentinvention, when a caller uses a terminal to call 911, the PSAP or 911call center receives a call report with the number of the terminal ofthe 911 caller. If the call is dropped, the PSAP or 911 call center can,manually, or automatically via the system of the present invention, dialor cause to be dialed, a pre-determined prefix prior to dialing thenumber of the terminal of the 911 caller. In this manner, the PSAP or911 call center can obtain access to the terminal of the 911 caller,thus overcoming the disadvantages associated with conventional calltreatment. For example, the PSAP or 911 call center system can dial orcause to be dialed: <prefix>MSISDN, such as 911#972-555-1111.Alternatively, the PSAP can manually add the prefix such as 911 then thenumber of the terminal of the 911 caller. In a separate embodiment ofthe method and system of the present invention, a separate parameter isused in CAMEL IDP and ISUP IAM to indicate the calling party category toidentify the call from PSAP or 911 call centers. In a third embodimentof the present invention, an MSC or external box interfaced to the MSCidentifies the terminal of the 911 calling party and communicates theidentity to the IN network to authorize the terminal of the 911 callerto receive all incoming calls for the specified amount of time.

In the event that the embodiment of the present invention that usesmanual dialing of a prefix is implemented, all PSAP dispatchers andfirst responders must be educated as to the dialing procedure to beused. In all of the embodiments of the present invention, the serviceprovider core switches must be configured with the necessary datatranslations to receive and identify the prefix or the calling partycategory so as to permit the PSAP or 911 call center to cause aconnection to be made to the terminal of the subscriber with the INservices.

There exist a variety of communication channels over which a PSAPdispatcher or 911 call center can call back the terminal of a 911caller, including wireline, terrestrial wireless, Voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP) and/or mobile satellite services. Regardless of themanner in which the call back is made, it is critical that thetelecommunications service provider have available mechanisms to ensurethat there are no call failures in receiving incoming calls from a PSAPdue to IN services restrictions. The present invention is described withreference to two major scenarios where the PSAP uses either a wirelineor terrestrial wireless system to call back a 911 caller. The presentinvention is likewise adaptable to calls made to roaming subscribers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a dropped 911 call from aterminal of a subscriber with IN services;

FIG. 1B is a message flow diagram illustrating a 911 call from aterminal of a subscriber with IN services to a PSAP that has beendropped;

FIG. 1C is a message flow diagram illustrating an attempted call backfrom a PSAP to a terminal of a 911 caller with IN services;

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of a call back from a PSAP terminal using aprefix to a terminal of a 911 caller having IN services according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a message flow diagram of a callback from a PSAP to aterminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a call back from a PSAP mobile terminalusing a separate calling party category to a terminal of a 911 callerhaving IN services according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a call using a prefix from a fixed,wireline telephone of a PSAP to a terminal of a 911 caller having INservices according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a message flow diagram of a call from a fixed, wirelinetelephone of a PSAP to a terminal of a 911 caller having IN servicesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a call from a fixed, wireline telephone ofa PSAP using a separate calling party category to a terminal of a 911caller having IN services according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 2A, a block diagram of a call back from a PublicSafety Answering Point (PSAP) terminal using a prefix to a terminal of a911 caller having Intelligent Network (IN) services according to anembodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As seen therein,terminal 201 of the PSAP dispatcher is used to dial a prefix or the PSAPdispatcher manually adds a prefix to the 911 calling party MobileStation International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) (the prefixand MSISDN being referred to as “digits”) to connect the call to theterminal of the 911 caller who is the IN subscriber. The digits arefirst received, via the Base Station (BS) 202 and Base StationController (BSC) 203, in the Visiting Mobile Switching Center (V-MSC)204. The V-MSC 204 analyzes the digits and routes the call to theGateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) 205A being used by the terminalof the called subscriber without stripping or altering the prefix or theMSISDN. At the GMSC 205A, B-number and Signaling Connection and ControlPart (SCCP) analysis are per formed. The global title “Routing Case”provides the Signaling Point (SP) of the Home Location Register (HLR)206. The Mobile Application Part (MAP) message “Send Routing Information(SRI)” is sent to the HLR 206 by the Message Transport Part (MTP). TheGMSC 205A receives Terminating CAMEL Subscription Information (T-CSI)data from HLR 206. The T-CSI data indicates that Customized Applicationsfor Mobile Network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) services are to be applied tomobile terminating calls and routing to the GSM Service SwitchingFunction (gsmSSF) 205B is invoked. The Service Key (SK) which comes fromHLR 206 data for CAMEL is sent from gsmSSF 205B to Service Control Point(SCP) 207 to identify the service to be invoked in the SCP 207. The SCP207 sends interrogations about credit or remaining minutes associatedwith the terminal of the 911 caller to the Service Data Point (SDP) 208,to determine if a call is allowed and, if so, for how long. In the INplatform 209, the A-number prefix must be addressed in such a way thatSCP 207 always allows the connection of a call with the prefix dialed bythe PSAP in the call from the PSAP to a terminal of the 911 caller whois the IN subscriber. When the call has been routed through the SCP 207,the call set up will continue through the gsmSSF 205B, the B numberanalysis will be performed and the call will progress as normal to theterminal 213 of the B-subscriber, i.e., the 911 caller who is the INsubscriber, via the MSC/VLR 210, BSC 211, and BS 212.

FIG. 2B is a message flow diagram 220 of a callback from a PSAP to aterminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. As seentherein, messages flow between and among the nodes PSAP 221, HLR 222,GMSC 223, IN Platform 224, BSC 225 and terminal 226. As seen therein,the present invention uses a prefix, separate calling party category ornotification to service node about the 911 call from MSC or other corenode or external node, this notification can in turn be used in serviceplatform to allow all incoming calls to the 911 caller for a specifiedamount of time which helps the PSAP call to reach the terminal of the INsubscriber with restrictions.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a call back from a PSAP mobile terminal 201using a separate calling party category to a terminal 213 of a 911caller having IN services according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. As seen therein, terminal 201 of the PSAP dispatcher is usedto assign a separate calling party category to connect the call to theterminal of the 911 caller who has subscribed to IN services. Thecategory is received, via the BS 202 and BSC 203 in the V-MSC 204. TheV-MSC 204 analyzes the calling party category and MSISDN and routes thecall to the GMSC 205A used by the terminal 213 of the called subscriberwithout stripping or altering the calling party category or the MSISDN.At the GMSC 205A, B-number and SCCP analysis are performed. The globaltitle “Routing Case” provides the SP of the HLR 206. The MAP message“Send Routing Information” is sent to the HLR 206 by the MTP and theGMSC 305A receives T-CSI data from HLR 206. The T-CSI data indicatesthat CAMEL services are to be applied to mobile terminating calls androuting to the gsmSSF 205B is invoked. The Service Key (SK) which comesfrom HLR 206 data for CAMEL is sent from gsmSSF 205B to SCP 207 toidentify the service to be invoked in the SCP 207. The SCP 207 sendsinterrogations about a subscriber's credit or remaining minutes to theSDP 208, to check if a call is allowed and, if so, for how long. In theIN platform 209, the A-number must be addressed in such way that SCP 207always allows the connection of a call with the PSAP calling partycategory in the call from the PSAP. When the call has been routedthrough the SCP 207, the call set up will continue through the gsmSSF205B, the B number analysis is performed and the call progresses asnormal to the terminal 213 of the B-subscriber, being the 911 caller,via the MSC/VLR 210, BSC 211, and BS 212.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a call using a prefix from a fixed,wireline telephone of a PSAP to a terminal of a 911 caller having INservices according to an embodiment of the present invention. Inoperation, the call is routed as seen in FIG. 2, provided that,initially, the PSAP, using a fixed, wireline terminal 401 dials thenumber of the terminal of the 911 caller along with the prefix and this,along with the MSISDN reaches the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) 402. TheLEC 402 uses data translations to receive these dialed digits, includingthe prefix, analyze the prefix and <MSISDN> and route them through theInter Exchange carrier (IXC) as needed so that the prefix and the MSISDNreaches the GMSC 205A used by the terminal of the B-subscriber.

FIG. 4B is a message flow diagram 420 of a call from a fixed, wirelinetelephone of a PSAP to a terminal of a 911 caller having IN servicesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. As seen therein,messages flow between and among the nodes PSAP 221, local exchange 421,HLR 222, GMSC 223, IN Platform 224, V-MSC 422, BSC 225 and mobileterminal 226.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a call from a fixed, wireline telephone ofa PSAP using a separate calling party category to a terminal of a 911caller having IN services according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. In operation, the call is routed as seen in FIG. 3, providedthat, initially, the PSAP, using a fixed, wireline terminal 401 dialsthe number of the terminal of the 911 caller number with the PSAPcalling category and this, along with the MSISDN reaches the LEC 402.The LEC uses data translations to receive the category, analyze thecategory and route them through the IXC as needed so that the completecategory plus the MSISDN reaches the GMSC 205A used by the terminal ofthe B-subscriber.

There are numerous advantages associated with the present invention. Itimproves the ability of a PSAP to respond to a terminal of a 911 callerwho has subscribed to IN services, it works when the terminal of the 911caller is in a roaming mode, and it is efficiently and cost effectivelyimplemented in a telecom service provider network as it only involvesdata translation changes to receive the prefix <MSISDN> and treat thedigits as needed.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovativeconcepts described in the present application can be modified and variedover a wide range of applications. Accordingly, the scope of patentedsubject matter should not be limited to any of the specific exemplaryteachings discussed above, but is instead defined by the followingclaims.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A method of establishing a connection from a PublicSafety Answering Point (PSAP) to a terminal subscribed to IntelligentNetwork (IN) services, comprising the steps of: receiving by the PSAP, acall report with the number of the terminal, wherein the number is aMobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN);assigning a separate calling party category to connect the call to theterminal collectively, the calling party category and MSISDN arereferred to as “digits”); receiving the digits, via a Base Station (BS)and a Base Station Controller (BSC) in a Visiting Mobile SwitchingCenter (V-MSC); analyzing, by the V-MSC, the calling party category andMSISDN; routing the call to the Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC)used by the terminal without stripping or altering the calling partycategory or the MSISDN; performing, at the GMSC, B-number and SCCPanalysis, wherein the global title “Routing Case” provides the SignalingPoint (SP) of the HLR; sending, by the HLR, the MAP message “SendRouting Information” by Message Transport Part (MTP); receiving, by theGMSC, T-CSI data from HLR, wherein the T-CSI data indicates that CAMELservices are to be applied to mobile terminating calls and routing tothe gsmSSF is invoked; sending a Service Key (SK) from HLR, and data forCAMEL, from gsmSSF to SCP to identify the service to be invoked in theSCP; sending, by the SCP, interrogations about a subscriber to a ServiceData Point (SDP), to check if a call is allowed and, if so, for howlong; and in an IN platform, addressing an A-number in such way that aService Control Point (SCP) always allows the connection of a call withthe PSAP calling party category in the call from the PSAP.
 4. A systemfor establishing a connection from a Public Safety Answering Point(PSAP) to a terminal subscribed to Intelligent Network (IN) services,comprising: means for receiving by the PSAP, a call report with thenumber of the terminal, wherein the number is a Mobile Stationinternational Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN); means for assigninga separate calling party category to connect the call to the terminal(collectively, the calling party category and MSISDN are referred to as“digits”); means for receiving the digits, via a Base Station (BS) and aBase Station Controller (BSC) in a Visiting Mobile Switching Center(V-MSC); means for analyzing, by the V-MSC, the calling party categoryand MSISDN; means for routing the call to the Gateway Mobile SwitchingCenter (GMSC) used by the terminal without stripping or altering thecalling party category or the MSISDN; means for performing, at the GMSC,B-number and SCCP analysis, wherein the global title “Routing Case”provides the Signaling Point (SP) of the HLR; means for sending, by theHLR, the MAP message “Send Routing Information” by Message TransportPart (MTP); means for receiving, by the GMSC, T-CSI data from HLR,wherein the T-CSI data indicates that CAMEL services are to be appliedto mobile terminating calls and routing to the gsmSSF is invoked; meansfor sending a Service Key (SK) from HLR, and data for CAMEL, from gsmSSFto SCP to identify the service to be invoked in the SCP; means forsending, by the SCP, interrogations about a subscriber to a Service DataPoint (SDP), to check if a call is allowed and, if so, for how long; andmeans for, in an IN platform, addressing an A-number prefix in such waythat a Service Control Point (SCP) always allows the connection of acall with the PSAP calling party category in the call from the PSAP.